Leek, Hannibal Organic

Short Description

Mild onion-like flavor is great for roasting and in soups.

Full Description

Dark green leaves are produced on white stems with a mild onion flavor. Hannibal is a reliable variety that crops heavily and early from mid July to mid October. It has long thick white shalks and dark green leaves. Grow close together and harvest early as baby leeks. Great for roasting and in soups. Certified Organic Seed.

Days To Maturity
The average number of days from when the plant is actively growing in the garden to the expected time of harvest.

105 days

Fruit Size
The average size of the fruit produced by this product.

12-18 inches

Sun
The amount of sunlight this product needs daily in order to perform well in the garden. Full sun means 6 hours of direct sun per day; partial sun means 2-4 hours of direct sun per day; shade means little or no direct sun.

Full Sun

Spread
The width of the plant at maturity.

12 inches

Height
The typical height of this product at maturity.

24 inches

Sow Method
This refers to whether the seed should be sown early indoors and the seedlings transplanted outside later, or if the seed should be sown directly in the garden at the recommended planting time.

How to Grow

Keep weeds under control during the growing season. Weeds compete with plants for water, space and nutrients, so control them by either cultivating often or use a mulch to prevent their seeds from germinating. Avoid disturbing the soil around the plants when weeding.

Keep plants well watered during dry periods to promote rapid, uninterrupted growth. Plants need about 1 inch of rain per week during the growing season. Use a rain gauge to check to see if you need to add water. It’s best to water with a drip or trickle system that delivers water at low pressure at the soil level. If you water with overhead sprinklers, water early in the day so the foliage has time to dry off before evening, to minimize disease problems. Keep the soil moist but not saturated.

When the plants are about the size of a pencil, wrap the base of the stalks with paper or mound up the soil to blanch them.

Monitor for pests and diseases. Check with your local Cooperative Extension Service for pest controls recommended for your area.

Harvest and Preserving Tips

Harvest leeks when the bases of the stalks reach ¾-2 inches in diameter, about 90 days after sowing.

Sever the roots under the stalks and twist the stalks back and forth to loosen them and ease them out of the ground. Cut off remaining roots and all but 2 inches of the leaves.

Harvest as many leeks as you will use and leave the rest to harvest later in winter.

Mulch leeks heavily in cold winters.

Leeks may be frozen after blanching.

Common Disease Problems

Damping Off: This is one of the most common problems when starting plants from seed. The seedling emerges and appears healthy; then it suddenly wilts and dies for no obvious reason. Damping off is caused by a fungus that is active when there is abundant moisture and soils and air temperatures are above 68 degrees F. Typically, this indicates that the soil is too wet or contains high amounts of nitrogen fertilizer. Burpee Recommends: Keep seedlings moist but do not overwater; avoid over-fertilizing your seedlings; thin out seedlings to avoid overcrowding; make sure the plants are getting good air circulation; if you plant in containers, thoroughly wash them in soapy water and rinse in a ten per cent bleach solution after use.

Downy Mildew: This fungus causes whitish gray patches on the undersides and eventually both sides of the leaves. Burpee Recommends: Rotate crops with plants in a different family. Avoid overhead watering. Provide adequate air circulation, do not overcrowd plants. Do not work around plants when they are wet.

Onion White Rot: This soil-borne fungus causes yellowing and wilting of foliage above ground. Below ground, the roots rot and the fungus also infects the bulb. At the base of the bulb, a white fluffy fungus will appear with black fungal bodies. Burpee Recommends: Remove infected bulbs. Practice crop rotation with members of the onion family.

Pink Root Rot: A fungus that attacks roots causing them to turn a light pink, then red and eventually purple-brown and causing them to shrivel. Infected plants show signs of nutrient deficiencies and drought because the roots cannot take up water and nutrients. Plants are stunted. The disease lives in the soil for several years and thrives in warm temperatures. Burpee Recommends: Plant as early as possible so the bulk of the plant growth will be in cooler temperatures. Rotate crops and plant resistant varieties.

Rust: A number of fungus diseases that cause rust colored spots on foliage, stalks and husks. Burpee Recommends: Plant early as these diseases tend to be worse later in the season. Plant resistant varieties. Practice crop rotation. Remove infected plants.

Harvest and Preserving Tips

Harvest leeks when the bases of the stalks reach ¾-2 inches in diameter, about 90 days after sowing.

Sever the roots under the stalks and twist the stalks back and forth to loosen them and ease them out of the ground. Cut off remaining roots and all but 2 inches of the leaves.

Harvest as many leeks as you will use and leave the rest to harvest later in winter.

Mulch leeks heavily in cold winters.

Leeks may be frozen after blanching.

Product Details

Days To Maturity

105 days

Fruit Size

12-18 inches

Sun

Full Sun

Spread

12 inches

Height

24 inches

Sow Method

Direct Sow

Planting Time

Spring

Sow Time

2-4 weeks BLF

Thin

8 inches

Life Cycle

Annual

Reviews

Leek, Hannibal Organic is rated
1.0 out of
5 by
2.

Rated 1 out of
5 by
Tudy49 from
Organic LeekNot ONE seed germinated. Very disappointing for expensive seed.

Date published: 2017-07-15

Rated 1 out of
5 by
Kvbee from
Zero germinationNothing....
Planted leek 4 weeks ago and don't see any yet.